Nevada · Governor
Joe Lombardo is favored to hold the Nevada governorship. Predicted margin: R+3.1.
Under each share, its likely range (80 in 100 simulations) · * incumbent
Background
First-term Republican Joe Lombardo faces Aaron Ford (D).
Forecast history
Latest reading · Oct 28 · first published Sep 9 · 80% range · margin points R+10.2 to D+4.0. Methodology
About this series
Reconstructed with the current model Aug 1 – Sep 8 and Sep 16 – Sep 18; published readings Sep 9 – Oct 28. Each reconstructed day is the current model on that day’s own inputs, not a forecast published then. Corrections are dated in the changelog.
Faded: CTMM 2.2 reconstructed history: computed after the fact with each date's available polls and environment, without expert ratings; not an issued forecast. Issued forecasts begin at the launch marker.
CTMM 2.2 readings for 2026-09-16, 2026-09-17, 2026-09-18 were computed after the fact with each day's available inputs: no edition was issued on those days. Not an issued forecast.
Data table
| Date | Margin | Chance | 80% range | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28 | R+3.1 | R win 71.0% | R+10.2 to D+4.0 | Published forecast |
| Oct 27 | R+2.6 | R win 68.0% | R+9.7 to D+4.5 | Published forecast |
| Oct 26 | R+4.8 | R win 79.8% | R+12.2 to D+2.5 | Published forecast |
| Oct 25 | R+4.7 | R win 79.0% | R+12.1 to D+2.7 | Published forecast |
| Oct 24 | R+4.7 | R win 79.0% | R+12.1 to D+2.7 | Published forecast |
| Oct 23 | R+4.7 | R win 78.8% | R+12.1 to D+2.7 | Published forecast |
| Oct 22 | R+4.7 | R win 78.9% | R+12.1 to D+2.7 | Published forecast |
| Oct 21 | R+4.7 | R win 78.9% | R+12.1 to D+2.7 | Published forecast |
| Oct 20 | R+4.8 | R win 79.3% | R+12.1 to D+2.6 | Published forecast |
| Oct 19 | R+4.6 | R win 78.2% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 18 | R+4.6 | R win 78.2% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 17 | R+4.6 | R win 78.2% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 16 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 15 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 14 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 13 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 12 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 11 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 10 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 9 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 8 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 7 | R+4.6 | R win 78.5% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 6 | R+4.6 | R win 78.7% | R+12.1 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 5 | R+4.7 | R win 78.9% | R+12.3 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 4 | R+4.7 | R win 78.9% | R+12.3 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 3 | R+4.7 | R win 78.6% | R+12.3 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 2 | R+4.7 | R win 78.8% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 1 | R+4.7 | R win 78.7% | R+12.3 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 30 | R+4.7 | R win 78.8% | R+12.3 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 29 | R+4.7 | R win 79.0% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 28 | R+4.7 | R win 78.6% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 27 | R+4.7 | R win 78.6% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 26 | R+4.7 | R win 79.0% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 25 | R+4.7 | R win 78.5% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 24 | R+4.7 | R win 79.1% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 23 | R+4.7 | R win 78.8% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 22 | R+4.7 | R win 78.9% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 21 | R+4.7 | R win 78.9% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 20 | R+4.7 | R win 78.8% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 19 | R+4.7 | R win 78.8% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 18 | R+4.7 | R win 78.9% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 17 | R+4.7 | R win 79.0% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 16 | R+4.7 | R win 78.2% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 15 | R+4.8 | R win 78.6% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 14 | R+4.8 | R win 78.1% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 13 | R+4.8 | R win 78.6% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 12 | R+4.8 | R win 78.3% | R+12.4 to D+2.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 11 | R+4.8 | R win 78.6% | R+12.4 to D+2.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 10 | R+4.8 | R win 78.8% | R+12.4 to D+2.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 9 | R+5.9 | R win 83.1% | R+13.7 to D+1.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 8 | R+6.4 | R win 84.6% | R+14.2 to D+1.4 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 7 | R+6.4 | R win 84.6% | R+14.2 to D+1.4 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 6 | R+6.4 | R win 84.6% | R+14.2 to D+1.4 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 5 | R+7.6 | R win 89.0% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 4 | R+7.6 | R win 89.0% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 3 | R+7.6 | R win 89.0% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 2 | R+7.6 | R win 88.9% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 1 | R+7.7 | R win 89.1% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 31 | R+7.7 | R win 89.1% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 30 | R+7.7 | R win 89.1% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 29 | R+7.6 | R win 89.0% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 28 | R+7.6 | R win 89.0% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 27 | R+7.6 | R win 89.0% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 26 | R+7.6 | R win 89.0% | R+15.3 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 25 | R+7.6 | R win 88.9% | R+15.2 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 24 | R+7.6 | R win 88.9% | R+15.2 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 23 | R+7.6 | R win 88.9% | R+15.2 to EVEN | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 22 | R+7.8 | R win 89.6% | R+15.5 to R+0.2 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 21 | R+7.8 | R win 89.6% | R+15.4 to R+0.2 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 20 | R+7.8 | R win 89.5% | R+15.4 to R+0.2 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 19 | R+7.8 | R win 89.5% | R+15.4 to R+0.2 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 18 | R+7.8 | R win 89.5% | R+15.4 to R+0.2 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 17 | R+7.8 | R win 89.5% | R+15.4 to R+0.2 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 16 | R+7.8 | R win 89.5% | R+15.4 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 15 | R+7.7 | R win 89.4% | R+15.4 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 14 | R+7.8 | R win 89.4% | R+15.4 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 13 | R+7.7 | R win 89.4% | R+15.4 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 12 | R+7.7 | R win 89.4% | R+15.3 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 11 | R+7.7 | R win 89.3% | R+15.3 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 10 | R+7.7 | R win 89.3% | R+15.3 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 9 | R+7.7 | R win 89.3% | R+15.3 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 8 | R+7.7 | R win 89.3% | R+15.3 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 7 | R+7.7 | R win 89.2% | R+15.3 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 6 | R+7.7 | R win 89.3% | R+15.3 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 5 | R+7.7 | R win 89.3% | R+15.3 to R+0.1 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 4 | R+6.1 | R win 83.1% | R+14.1 to D+2.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 3 | R+6.1 | R win 83.1% | R+14.1 to D+2.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 2 | R+6.1 | R win 83.1% | R+14.1 to D+2.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 1 | R+6.0 | R win 83.1% | R+14.1 to D+2.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
The polls
Poll average D+0.3A poll’s weight halves every 60 days and grows with its sample. Each pollster counts once, at its best release. Every poll counts at its published margin, sponsored or not.In governor races the forecast then counts a poll sponsored by a party or campaign at full weight and moves its margin 2 points against that party, which puts the average it reads at R+0.9. It then applies a fitted correction of 2.5 points toward Republicans for governor races, measured from past polling error, before blending it with its other evidence.16 recorded polls · 14 in the poll average
| Fieldwork | Added | Pollster | Result | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| from 2026-10-20 | 2d ago | Hart Research Associates/Public Opinion Strategies ↗ | D+4.0D 49% · R 45% | 950 LV |
| from 2026-10-20 | 2d ago | RedBox Research (D) ↗ | D+3.0D 46% · R 43% | 1,407 LV |
| from 2026-09-26 | 3d ago | Concord Public Opinion Partners ↗ | R+1.0D 42% · R 43% | 565 LV |
| from 2026-10-08 | Global Strategy Group (D) ↗ | R+1.0D 47% · R 48% | 700 LV | |
| from 2026-09-22 | Noble Predictive Insights ↗ | R+2.0D 40% · R 42% | 708 LV | |
| from 2026-09-05 | Emerson College ↗KLAS-TV Las Vegas | D+2.1D 44.16% · R 42.05% | 680 LV | |
| from 2026-06-27 | Public Opinion Strategies ↗Republican Governors Association | R+9.0D 42% · R 51% | 600 LV | |
| from 2026-07-25 | Tarrance Group ↗Better Nevada PAC | Republican Governors Association | R+7.0D 43% · R 50% | 550 LV |
Explore each poll’s weight in the average
Poll average D+0.3
- Published result
- D+4.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.81 · 19% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 20 Oct–25 Oct
- Sample
- 950 LV
- Sponsor
- Democratic sponsor · organization not listed
- Published result
- D+3.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.94 · 22% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 20 Oct–23 Oct
- Sample
- 1,407 LV
- Sponsor
- Democratic sponsor · organization not listed
- Published result
- R+1.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.61 · 12% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 8 Oct–13 Oct
- Sample
- 700 LV
- Sponsor
- Democratic sponsor · organization not listed
- Published result
- R+1.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.47 · 11% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 26 Sep–30 Sep
- Sample
- 565 LV
- Sponsor
- Democratic sponsor · organization not listed
- Published result
- R+2.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.50 · 10% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 22 Sep–26 Sep
- Sample
- 708 LV
- Sponsor
- Not listed
- Published result
- D+2.1
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.40 · 8.8% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 5 Sep–8 Sep
- Sample
- 680 LV
- Sponsor
- KLAS-TV Las Vegas
- Published result
- R+7.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.22 · 5.1% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 25 Jul–29 Jul
- Sample
- 550 LV
- Sponsor
- Better Nevada PAC | Republican Governors Association
- Published result
- R+12.0
- Read by the poll average as
- Not in the poll average
- Weight in the poll average
- excluded by source policy
- Fieldwork
- 8 Jul–16 Jul
- Sample
- 2,500 LV
- Sponsor
- Better Nevada PAC | Republican Governors Association
Excluded from the poll average by source policy: this poll’s estimator is unverified, so it is shown and not counted.
The New York Times polling archive · first recorded by Call the Map 17 AugOpen poll sourceHow the margin was built
Tap an input for its calculation and source.
Displayed values are rounded.
All calculations & sources
How this state voted, 2024 −3.100 points
The state's presidential margin in 2024 as a share of all votes cast, from our own county sums — the same measurement the model's statewide terrain center is built from. Every pull below is measured from here, not from EVEN, which is why a landslide seat's listed pulls are small numbers and still land where the forecast does.
- 2024 presidential result for this state, as a share of all votes cast, from Call the Map's own county sums.
- Same source as Act I's 2024-president reference mark, so the origin lands on it.
National environment +1.832 points
The contribution to this race’s margin, not the national polling margin itself. The race’s loading, reference level and polling blend determine how much of the national climate reaches its final forecast.
- The national environment in this edition is D+8.4. This row is its contribution to the race’s prior, not a claim that the country is D+1.8.
- This step’s recorded contribution to the margin is +1.8.
- Polls receive 97.9% of the blend. They attenuate this contribution to +0.1 in the final center; the offset is included in the polling row.
- The elasticity is fitted on the pooled panel of contested governor races (2010–2024) with cycle-clustered standard errors; it is a measured response to the national environment, not a judgment floor.
This race’s polls +1.036 points
What this race’s own recent polling adds beyond its prior. The forecast weights each poll for recency and sample size and counts each pollster once; the weights listed here are those of the polls’ own average.
- Hart Research Associates/Public Opinion Strategies (2026-10-25, n=950): D+4.0 · weight 0.81 in the poll average
- RedBox Research (D) (2026-10-23, n=1,407): D+3.0 · weight 0.94 in the poll average
- Global Strategy Group (D) (2026-10-13, n=700): R+1.0 · weight 0.61 in the poll average
- Concord Public Opinion Partners (2026-09-30, n=565): R+1.0 · weight 0.47 in the poll average
- Noble Predictive Insights (2026-09-26, n=708): R+2.0 · weight 0.50 in the poll average
- Emerson College (2026-09-08, n=680): D+2.1 · weight 0.40 in the poll average
- … and 10 more below.
- Poll average D+0.3, from 14 polls · 16 recorded polls. This is the polls’ own average, each poll at its published margin, the figure this page’s poll summary shows. In governor races the forecast then counts a poll sponsored by a party or campaign at full weight and moves its margin 2 points against that party, which puts the average it reads at R+0.9. It then applies a fitted correction of 2.5 points toward Republicans for governor races, measured from past polling error, before blending it with its other evidence. The forecast gives the polls 98% of the weight against its structural prior for this race, which moves the margin 1.0 point away from Republicans from where it stood before the polls. Eligible polls: latest poll: 2026-10-25 (4 days old).
Historical error calibration +0.235 points
A prior-election residual correction, when an admitted model publishes one.
- The forecast’s calibration against past governor results. The recorded contribution is +0.2.
Fitted model, above the terrain shown −3.201 points
What the fitted model adds on top of the starting terrain above — incumbency, past results, campaign finance and the other fitted terms — measured from that terrain rather than from EVEN. It is a comparison with the starting point already shown, not a separate input. The source detail lists the variables the fit uses.
- Fitted baseline -6.301 minus starting point -3.100 = -3.201 points.
- Fitted intercept: -6.136 points.
- 2010 White population share used by the frozen historical fit: observed input 65.895. -0.503 × ((65.895 − 77.922) / 12.864) = 0.470 points.
- gov_midterm_wh: observed input -1.000. -0.987 × ((-1.000 − 0.336) / 0.739) = 1.785 points.
- 2024 presidential lean relative to the national result: observed input -1.659. 4.163 × ((-1.659 − -4.415) / 20.258) = 0.566 points.
- Previous governor election margin: observed input -1.510. 1.755 × ((-1.510 − -3.131) / 19.227) = 0.148 points.
- gov_inc_running_signed: observed input -1.000. 2.531 × ((-1.000 − -0.120) / 0.708) = -3.145 points.
- gov_inc_tenure_signed: observed input -1.000. 3.340 × ((-1.000 − -0.143) / 0.902) = -3.174 points.
- The displayed arithmetic is rounded; the fitted terms use full precision. The intercept plus these five terms gives the non-ratings baseline.
- No source-verified current Gallup reading supports the former 40% / July 2026 claim. The current Gallup series ends in 2025; the Presidency Project identifies its 2026 observations as other pollsters. Use the unchanged fitted missing-value rule, not a replacement polling scale.
- Certified 2024 presidential baseline: state R+3.2, national R+1.5; subtracting the national margin gives relative lean −1.7. Source: FEC compilation of certified state results.
Votes for other candidates +0.100 points
Every step above is measured between the two major-party candidates alone, as if nobody else were on the ballot. The forecast sets 3.1% of the vote aside for other candidates and write-ins, so as a share of every vote cast the gap between the two is smaller by that much. This step is exactly that: the two-party margin times the share going to other candidates. It is the same arithmetic that turns the two-party margin into the two shares printed at the top of the page.
The components this edition publishes for this race, in points. “Other factors” closes the sum to the two-party structural lean exactly. The margin the page prints is a share of every vote cast, so the “Votes for other candidates” row carries the exact difference between the two-party lean and that margin; with it, the walk sums to the printed margin exactly.
| Named factor | Contribution |
|---|---|
| FundamentalsThe admitted fitted baseline. Its surviving variables differ by office; the source detail above identifies those used for this race. | −6.30 |
| National environmentThe national environment’s contribution to the prior. Polling can attenuate its influence; this value is not the national polling margin. | +1.83 |
| This race's pollsAdmitted head-to-head polls of this race, recency- and quality-weighted. | +1.04 |
| Historical calibrationThe House lane's calibration against certified past cycles. | +0.24 |
| Other factors | 0.00 |
Where the votes are
The map of this race loads here.
Race context
- Turnout, 2018 midterm
- 45.1% 975,980 ballots
- Turnout, 2022 midterm
- 45.9% 1,023,617 ballots
- 2024 presidential margin
- R+3.2between the two parties
Turnout is ballots cast statewide as a share of the voting-eligible population. Source: University of Florida Election Lab ↗
Population profile
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates ↗
Coverage
7 stories · 5 quotes
- El sindicato de maestros del condado de Clark respalda a Lombardo, pero una encuesta revela que los maestros prefieren a Ford ↗
Las Vegas Sun · Oct 28
- OPINION: Danielle Ford is more like Elizabeth Holmes than AOC ↗
The Nevada Independent politics · Oct 27
- 'Is mercy fitting?' Here's what Aaron Ford has said about now controversial clemency votes ↗
The Nevada Independent politics · Oct 25
- Recent campaign ads about governor candidate AG Aaron Ford have put the Nevada Board of Pardons in the spotlight.
We dig into the facts to explain how Ford’s votes have shaped clemency for people convicted of murder.
buff.ly/S1e0pCl ↗
The Nevada Independent · Official · 3d ago
curated newsroom · recent Bluesky post · named-race match - Millions of dollars in campaign ads have been spent highlighting AG Aaron Ford’s support of clemency for 30 convicted murderers.
Here’s what you need to know: buff.ly/S1e0pCl ↗
The Nevada Independent · Official · 3d ago
curated newsroom · recent Bluesky post · named-race match - Whatever happens, Flippo will always be able to say that when the chips were down, not only did Trump stick by his endorsement of Flippo. So did Lombardo. ↗
Nevada Current · Official · 6d ago
curated state newsroom · recent Bluesky post · named-race match - Republican candidates, such as Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, are walking a precarious tightrope by urging citizens to vote even while toeing the Republican party line that elections are not secure. ↗
Nevada Current · Official · 6d ago
curated state newsroom · recent Bluesky post · named-race match - Our top takeaways from Nevada's new campaign finance reports ↗
The Nevada Independent politics · Oct 17
Forecast as of October 28, 2026: Call the Map currently has Joe Lombardo ahead of Aaron Ford by R+3.1, with a 71 in 100 chance to win. The seat is currently held by a Republican. That result would keep the seat with Republicans. The current poll average is D+0.3; 16 public polls are recorded.